Three weeks after he finished seventh in the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic, Nevada Beach won Saturday’s Grade 3 Native Diver Stakes at Del Mar as expected, but only after he fought past a stubborn rival in British Isles. Nevada Beach ($2.20) closed from third in a field of four to race alongside 16-1 British Isles in the final furlong. Nevada Beach gradually gained the lead, winning by a half-length. British Isles finished 2 1/4 lengths in front of 8-1 Westwood. Indispensable (9-2) finished last. Clouseau was withdrawn by trainer George Papaprodromou. Nevada Beach, who was ridden by Juan Hernandez, ran 1 1/8 miles in 1:48.35 and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 96. Nevada Beach raced wide throughout. Hernandez had the 3-year-old colt in third on the backstretch, tracking Westwood, who set a fair pace of 23.42 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 47.17 for a half-mile. :: Access the most trusted data and information in horse racing! DRF Past Performances and Picks are available now. British Isles joined Westwood on the lead toward the end of the backstretch. With a three-wide move, Nevada Beach joined the leaders. He moved closer to the front after urging from Hernandez. In the winner’s circle, Hernandez said the distance of the $98,000 Native Diver Stakes was on the lower end of Nevada Beach’s preference. “Around the three-eighths pole, I had to start working on him, because he was getting a little lazy on me,” Hernandez said. “He wants to run more distance. He gave me a huge gallop out.” Nevada Beach, by Omaha Beach, has won 4 of 6 starts for trainer Bob Baffert and owners Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman in a career that began with a win in a maiden race at a mile at Santa Anita in April. Nevada Beach was second to the Baffert-trained Gaming in the Affirmed Stakes for 3-year-olds at Santa Anita on June 8 before winning consecutive starts in the Los Alamitos Derby on June 28 and the Grade 1 Goodwood Stakes at 1 1/8 miles at Santa Anita on Sept. 27. In the BC Classic at 1 1/4 miles at Del Mar on Nov. 1, Nevada Beach was as close as sixth on the backstretch before fading to finish 11 3/4 lengths behind race winner Forever Young. Nevada Beach has earned $426,500. He was purchased for $260,000 at the 2023 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. PICK SIX RETURNS Saturday’s $2 pick six paid $42,879 on a program that began with a carryover of $51,879 from last Sunday. The pick six encompassed the fourth through ninth races on Saturday. The winners were Aloha Dreamin ($11), Amelia’s Echo ($4.40), Coralgableskaylin ($25.20), Christel Clean ($3.20), Nevada Beach ($2.20) and So Happy ($78). Amelia’s Echo, Christel Clean, and Nevada Beach were favored. Bettors added $476,910 to the pick six pool on Saturday. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.